Mooloolaba Rotary has had a long association with Coast Guard Mooloolaba QF6, dating back to the 1970s.  The following is a short history of our involvement with the Coast Guard provided by former QF6 commanders Roger Beighton and Ross Dunne in 2016. 

 

1976 - The very first radio base caravan was provided by Buderim Lions and located beside the boat ramp at Kawana. The first rescue vessel Centaur II was launched in October 1976.

 

1978 - Rotary became involved providing financial support to purchase equipment and radios.

 

1981 - Rotary initiated the Annual Prawn Festival about this time with the Coast Guard participating and fund raising by having stalls selling fish, crabs and pineapple boats to raise funds for a new Base Headquarters.

 

1982 - Rotary provided a Base Radio caravan as the first van was deteriorating.

 

1984 - Rotary contributed towards the new Base Headquarters constructed on Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba. Local concrete contractor Jimmy Williams, a Coast Guard skipper at the time, became the Owner Builder type supervisor for construction of the base which was officially opened by Premier Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen on 3 March 1984. 

 

1984 – Mooloolaba Rotary contributed substantial funds to a new rescue vessel being a 28 foot Powercat built on the Gold Coast. The vessel was launched in October 1984 and named Rotary I.

 

1985/2000 - Rotary continued to support the Coast Guard financially and in 2000 provided funds towards the first secondary rescue vessel named Rotary II launched that year. Photographs of both Rotary I and Rotary II are displayed in CG Headquarters.

 

2001 - 2012 Rotary continued to support the Coast Guard with fund raising from time to time.

 

2013/2014 - Rotary assisted by providing project management expertise (Roger Wright) during the extensions of the Coast Guard headquarters saving them $200,000+.  Rotary also had several working bees supporting the project during that time.

 

2016 - our continuing support was recognised by the naming of the primary rescue vessel “Mooloolaba Rotary Rescue” and QF6’s new secondary vessel “Rotary III”.

 

Our association with QF6 continues and as stated by our president at the naming ceremony of these vessels “I hope and expect that the relationship between Mooloolaba Rotary and Coast Guard Mooloolaba QF6 will continue to grow as we support each other in our common missions of providing valued and essential support to our community”.  Learn more about QF6 at: